M-43 NE India Pale Ale | Old Nation Brewing Co.

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Notes / Commercial Description:
The First release in Old Nation's "New Orthodox" IPA series, M-43 is designed to accentuate the deep and complex character from the combination of Calypso, Simcoe, Citra and Amarillo hops. Citrus and Tropical notes of Pineapple, Mango and Grapefruit come through in the huge, yet surprisingly delicate aroma. The flavor backs these aromas with a soft, pillowy mouthfeel. Hop bitterness is not particularly intense, which leads to a very drinkable, New England IPA even non-IPA fans love. The Haze is not from yeast, but rather from an interplay of lipids from the malted oat and oils and acids which naturally occur in the hand selected Dry hops. This beer is a perfect interplay between top grade malt and hops, MI water and brewing technique which cannot be faked.

Reviews by MacStinson:

More User Reviews:

It's been awhile since my last review, but having had this "NE style" IPA offering a few different times now, I felt compelled to preach the gospel of one of Michigan's best entries into the market space. Enjoyed on tap at Sidetrack in Ypsilanti and served in a classic pint-sized tumbler glass.

Appearance (4.0) - Has the requisite look for a NE style IPA. Cloudy to the level of looking like juice, or perhaps a beer/juice cocktail. No ability to see through it whatsoever, as calling it "hazy" falls short--this one is straight up murky. The color is orange juice, but without the glowing brightness that you'll sometimes get from the juice or certain takes on the NE style. Atop the body is an apologetic head that is about a finger thick, but dissipates fairly quickly and leaves smatterings of foam lace along the sides of the glass. A permanent ring of off-white foam persists around the edge of the glass.

Smell (4.25) - This one doesn't burst out of the glass like some others in the substyle, but it hits all the core beats--dominated by notes of tropical and citrus, including clementine, pineapple, and mango. Some veins of light herbal aroma serves to break up the parade of fruit juice. Any presence from the grain is lost in the flora of the fruit and herbs.

Taste (4.5) - All the same flavor profiles from the smell, but with a bigger punch. The herbal characteristic here is more present than in the aroma, and while mango and pineapple dominate the collection of flavors, that herbal element--maybe some fresh pine and light bitterness serves to give the taste some depth and allow every last drop to be enjoyed rather than getting tired over the course of consuming it.

Mouthfeel (4.75) - true to style, Old Nation has the pillowy, full-but-not-heavy mouthfeel down pat. Obviously the fruit characteristics play a huge role in the "juicy" descriptor that gets tossed around with this subset of IPAs, but it's that luscious feel that really ties the room together.

Overall (4.5), an exceedingly worthy entry into the increasingly crowded field of hazy, juicy, low-bitterness IPAs that have come to be known as New England Style. Several brewers in Michigan are throwing their hats into the murky ring and while a lot of them are good, this one might be my favorite. Shares a lot of the qualities that I love so much about Julius only not on '11' and a good beer in it's own rite--not a copycat.

This is the proverbial "shit" right now in Michigan. When I saw it available at Michigan Beer Growler Company, I figured I should get myself a Howler and give it a whirl.

What I will say about M43 is that it is incredibly clean. The way the flavors just "snap" away after the sip is perfect. Also pretty damn perfect is the balance on this. The amount of bitterness is pretty much exactly what I look for in a single IPA. The flavors are decidedly fruity, as I don't find this to be very piney or especially floral at all... a little tropical, with a fair amount of citrus. Everything meddles well on the swallow into the aftertaste -- this is just a very nicely balanced, respectable IPA.

Is it a mind-blower? Not at all, as far as I'm concerned. The M43 fad will be a brief one, if I had to guess. At the same time, I think it will be a mainstay option for metro-Detroit IPA fans, because it's so nicely balanced, drinkable, and pleasantly flavored. Definitely a quality beer.

...and a confusing review. I sound like I'm slamming this beer... I don't mean to. M43 is definitely delicious, but it's not the best IPA I've ever had like I was expecting it would be, based on what I've been hearing everybody say.

Lots of variety hop wise in the nose. Straight orange juice here. Tons of citrus without any negative hop protein burn. This one will go toe to toe with any of the big hype East Coast IPAs. Impressive as hell. Even though this one is getting a little bit of hype I believe it is still flying way under the radar. If I have this available to me locally it would always be in my fridge.

This is a unique and incredible beer. One could almost mistake it for orange juice when pouring if not for the clean white head that forms. As soon as the can was opened, the citrus aromas filled the room with beautiful notes of grapefruit and orange. The beer fills your mouth with carbonated goodness that is oh so satisfying, and the flavors can't be competed with, perfectly balances the fruity notes with the hops. Absolutely one of the best citrus IPAs on the market.

Pours a turbid golden orange color with over a finger of an off-white head. A haze bomb.

Aroma consists of copious amounts of juicy, overly-ripe pineapple, mango, and tangerine/clementine, with the sweeter orange aromas being the dominant force. Also get nectarine, candied grapefruit, pine, and dank. That juicy fruit bubblegum yeast ester is there too. Really juicy.

Taste gravitates more towards citrus than tropical. Although pineapple, mango, peach, and slight papaya are there and add a nice complexity, it's tangerine, clementine, and orange juice flavors that take over. Those juicy yeast esters come through as well. Get an orange and grapefruit pith bitterness. Not much malt of speak of besides some sugary sweetness and some wheat, yet it does just enough to provide some balance to the beer.

Medium body. Soft and creamy. Smooth carbonation.

This has received some hype up in Michigan and for good reason. A very good attempt at the N.E. style. Haze and juice bomb!

I'm putting this on the same scale as Treehouse, Trillium, and Veil. It has the same soft pillowy mouthfeel, same juicy nose and taste, same hazy appearance, and you can drink it all day along without growing tired of it.

Pours a very interesting color. Almost like pureed apricot. Dark yellowy/tan color. Hazy it is but a bit different looking than typical NE style ipa's. Light tan head that quickly dissipated and left almost no lacing.

It is about as viscous as it looks with a firm mouthfeel, but surprisingly refreshing.

Pineapple, and some fresh grassiness hit you first with some back under tongue grapefruit rind for bitterness.

A very interesting take on a NE style IPA. Would grab some more if it was anywhere near here.

I haven't had a new beer that made me say "wow!" in a while. Enter Old Nation M43. Does it have it's flaws? Sure. But it's by far one of the best new IPAs around, and certainly within the top 5 coming out of MI. Pours like orange juice with a 2+ finger head. Juicy, resinous, floral notes in both smell and taste. Mouthfeel is just right. Definitely seek out this beer if you can.

nice pour, bright sunny d look with a super frothy top. All murky juice looking back at me. Aroma is pretty much resin and grapefruit, some softer notes of stone fruit. Taste follows the nose, it's earthy first and tropical second. breadcrumbs and grapefruit. It's super crushable, the abc is hidden well, medium carb, zesty finish. Overall a good beer, happy to try it but I probably wouldn't go out of my way again to trade for it.

On tap. This is that hazy juice bomb unfiltered trillium treehouse shit. Hazy and all juice. So good. Orange for days and thick. Order one if you see it. First pour from a baby keg. Ignore your Old Nation bias and run for this

Thanks to Prager62 for this MI gem. Canned 06/30/17
Haze fo' days. Orange to overripe peach in hue. White foam pushes up and quickly retreats. Constant effervescent carbonation activity tries to replenish the head but just leaves tiny bubbles instead of replenishing the foam. Almost no lacing.
Aroma is like a tropical fruit salad that's mango forward. But ripe, sweet, less earthy mango. Also it ncluded is smooth pineapple, as sell as some peach on the back end hanging out with oaty malt base.
Taste brings more tropical variety. The mango follows pineapple. Also some smooth grapefruit that slowly gets pithy. I've never had a slow pith build before. Juicy swagger in a smooth way. Subtle bitter notes dry out the finish.
Mouthfeel is fluffy. Medium carbonation that stays constant yet restrained.
Overall, a very good NE IPA. I like the variety it offers between the aroma and the taste. I would like a little more fluff in the head but I am by no means suggesting any changes.

Came in a goblet a deeply hazed almost milky orange tinged lemon yellow with a sticky half finger bone white head atop.Big tropical fruits in the nose,like a fresh squeezed tangerine and overripe pineapple,some floral notes as well,just bursting with fruits.Passion fruit and tangerine jump out on the palate with a slight grassiness coming thru in the finish,there is a sweetish doughy malt underneath the big hops,minimal bitterness.An IPA that almost drinks like a citrus punch,awesome!